DFG
Funding Opportunity for British-German Basic Research Projects in the Engineering and Physical Sciences (UKRI-EPSRC – DFG)
Rolling deadline — proposals can be submitted at any time
Last verified:
The UKRI-EPSRC, DFG partnership funds joint UK-German research proposals in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering sciences, with no predefined budget cap, teams compete within standard DFG Research Grants and EPSRC Standard Research Responsive Mode lines. Proposals must involve substantive contributions from both countries, led by PIs based in Germany and the UK, and can run up to three years. Rolling deadlines mean applications can be submitted any time, with parallel review by both agencies via the Lead Agency procedure.
Details
| Funder | DFG |
| Duration | Up to 3 years |
| Consortium | Required — joint UK-German team; at least one PI based in Germany and one based in the UK |
| Application | Single stage via Lead Agency (either DFG or EPSRC); parallel submission to non-lead agency required within 1 week |
| Frequency | Continuous |
| Eligible countries | DEGB |
Eligibility & scope
Joint UK-German research teams only; each project must include researchers based in Germany and the UK. Scope covers Chemistry, Physics (excl. Particles/Nuclei/Astrophysics), Mathematics, and Engineering Sciences (DFG side) / all EPSRC research areas (UK side). Proposals must be written in English. No dedicated budget — proposals compete within standard DFG Research Grants and EPSRC Responsive Mode funding lines.
Who Should Apply
- •Research teams with at least one PI based in Germany and one in the UK
- •Chemistry, physics (excluding particle, nuclear, and high-energy physics, and astrophysics), mathematics, and engineering science researchers
- •Projects requiring substantive collaboration across both countries to succeed
- •German non-university institutions must have a cooperation agreement (Kooperationspflicht) with a German university
Key Dates
- •Rolling deadline, submissions accepted at any time
- •Single-stage review via Lead Agency (DFG or EPSRC); non-lead agency receives parallel submission within 1 week
- •Project duration up to 36 months
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Choose your Lead Agency strategically: DFG or EPSRC will manage the primary review, but parallel submission to the other within one week is mandatory, co-ordinate timeline tightly to meet both windows.
- ✓Ensure both UK and German teams describe substantive, complementary contributions; reviewers reject imbalanced consortia where one side appears decorative.
- ✓Proposals compete within standard DFG and EPSRC funding lines, not a separate bilateral pot, align budget and scope to the funder's normal caps and review criteria for maximum competitiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to the UKRI-EPSRC, DFG scheme if my team has no formal collaboration history?
Yes, there is no prior-collaboration requirement; however, the proposal must demonstrate that substantive contributions from both UK and German sides are essential and complementary.
What happens if I submit to DFG first and EPSRC misses the one-week window?
The application to the non-lead agency will likely be rejected or withdrawn; strict adherence to the parallel submission deadline is critical.
Is there a single budget cap for the entire UK-German team?
No, proposals compete within standard DFG Research Grants and EPSRC Standard Research Responsive Mode funding lines, each with their own budget ceilings; check both funders' current caps.
Can a German non-university institution lead the project?
A non-university German institution may participate but must have a cooperation agreement (Kooperationspflicht) with a German university; the university typically anchors the institutional partnership.
Which research fields are eligible?
Chemistry, physics (excluding particle, nuclear, field physics, and astrophysics), mathematics, and engineering sciences; all EPSRC research areas are also eligible on the UK side.
Related on Grantsby
- DFG writing tips & FAQ
Evaluation criteria, proposal structure, common mistakes.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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